Washing-machine



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J. H. LA MSON., WASHING MAGHINE.

' No. 573,336. Patented Deo. 15,1896

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(No Model.)

J; H. LAMSON. WASHING MACHINE.

Patented De-o.'15,1896.

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PATENT JAMES Il. LAMSON, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IVILLIAM A. BASS, OF OSWEGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

srnorrrcATIoN `forming part ef Letters Patent' No. 573,336, dated December 15, 189e. V

Application filed January 16, 1896. Serial No. 575,771. (No model.)

The invention relates to improvements in:`

washing-machines.

The object of. the present invention is to improve the construction of washing-ina-` chines and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will exert a rubbing and squeezing actionon clothes to effect a rapid removal of dirt and stains and which may be operated at the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor and without wearing, tearing, or otherwise injuring the fabrics.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingr drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is `a perspective View of a washing-machine constructed in accordanee with this invention, the body being partly broken away to show the construction and arrangement of the rubbers. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, the parts being shown in operative position in full lines and the rotary rubbing-cylinder being shown swung back in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. -l is a detail perspective view of the lower curved rubber. Fig. 5` is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig.

36 is a detail view of one of the hangers of the curved lower rubber employed in the modification of the` invention. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the bearing-bracket.

`portions of the top of the Washing-machine body, and one of the lids is provided with a projecting lip or lips overlapping the adjacent edge of the other lid and securing the latter in its closed position. One of the said end nals of a cylindrical rubber 6.

portions of the top of the washing-machine body is provided with a board for the attachment of a wringer.

The sides of the washing-machine body are provided at their inner faces with verticallydisposed grooves or ways 5, receiving jour- The journals may be formed by atransverse shaft or may be suitably mounted von the ends of the eylindrical rubber, and the latter is capable of lvertical movement to accommodate itself to the quantity of clothes being washed. The cylindrical rubber is provided with a rubbingsurface composed of `transverse slats, preferably beveled, as shown, and having their terminals secured to heads or ends 7 of the cylinder.

During the operation of washing the rubbing-cylinder is rocked or partially rotated by means hereinafterdescribed, and it cooperates with the lower curved rubber, which gage the clothes yieldingly to prevent the fabrics from being torn, Worn, or otherwise injured during the operation of washing. The central section is composed of beveled transverse slats or bars having their terminals secured in suitable grooves of side` bars l0, which have curved end portions forming supports for the end sections 9. The end sections 9 are composed of similar transverse bars or slats secured at their terminals in suitable grooves of curved bars ll. The upper or outer portions of the end sections 9 are connected with the side bars of the central section by springs l2which are interposed between the end sections and transverse bars 13. The latter are rigidly secured to the curved portions of the side bars and connect the IOC ' are -mounted may directly engage or be ar same, and the springs are supported in proper position by pins 14, carried by the end sections and passing through perforations of the bars 13 and adapted to reciprocate therein. As either end of the lower curved rubber approaches the cylindrical rubber the springs are compressed as the clothes are closed, and as such end is carried away from the cyli-ndrical rubber the springs move the end section inward, throwing the clothes toward the center of the washing-machine and turning them over to subject other portions of the fabrics to the squeezing and rubbing` action of the machine, thereby washing the clothes u uiforml y and thoroughly.

The lower curved rubber may, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, be suspended within the washing-machine body by oscillating `hangers 15, but the side bars are preferably provided with rollers 16, mounted in.horizontally-disposed ways '17 of the washing machine body, whereby the curved lower rubber is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the washing-machine body to 'carry its curved end sections alternately to and from the cylindrical rubber. The horizontal ways may 'be constructed in 'any suitable manner, but preferably consist of plates provided with horizontal flanges, and the rollers may, if desired, be 'dispensed with, and the ',pins'or journals on which the 'rollers ranged in the horizontal ways.

The cylindrical rubber has secured to it an upwardly-extendin g bar or arm 1S, extending within the dru mand attached tothe same by any suitable means. The meeting edges of the lids are recessed to provide an opening or slot 25 to receive the arm or bar 1S. The upper end of the arm or bar 18 is pivoted to the inner end of a horizontally-disposed connecting-bar 19, which is supported adjacent toits outer end by a pair of oppositely-disposed links or bars 20. The bars 2O are curved and pivo'red at their lower ends to the washingmachine body, at opposite sides thereof, and the connecting-bar 1l) is provided at its outer end with a handle-bar disposed transversely of the washing-machine andarranged within convenient reach of the operator.

The lower curved rubber is connected with the cylindrical rubber by longitudinally-disposed bars 2l, ecceutrically pivoted at their inner ends to the ends of the cylinder `and pivoted at their outer terminals to the ends of the side bars, adjacent to the handle of the operating mechanism, to permit the cylind rical rubber to be readily swung upward out ot' the washingfmachine body, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 ofthe accompanying drawings. By eccentricall-y pivoting the connecting-bars 21 :to the cylindrical rubber the bars operate as pitmen and reciprocate ythe lower curved rubber, causing the ends of the same alternately to approach the cylindrical rubber to effect a squeezing of the clothes being washed, and duringthe squeezing operai tion the cylindrical rubber is oscillated or partially rotated to produce a rubbing action. The inner terminals of the connecting-bars 21 are perforated to receive pins or projections 22 of the ends of the cylinder and are detachably secured to the same by resilient catches or springs 23 to enable the eylinderto be readily detached when desired.

As the cylindrical rubber is oscillated or partially rotated it exerts a downward pressure on the clothes and yieldingly engages the same, a spiral spring 24 being interposed be tween the top of the cylinder and the top or lids of the washing-machine body. The spiral spring 24 isdisposed on the upwardly-extend ing arm 1S and carries the bracket or bearing 26, and rollers 27 are journaled on the bracket or bearing 26 and engage lcurved track-bars 28. The track-bars 2S are secured to the inner faces of the lids and are engaged by the rollers during the operation of the machine. The bearing or bracket is loosely mounted on the arm or bar 1S, being provided with a central opening to receive the same, and the spring permits a vertical movement of the cylindrical rubber to'prevent too great apressure on the clothes.

It will. be seen that the washing-machineis simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is capable of readily and thoroughly washing clothes without injuring them, and that 'it is operated at the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor.

Changes inthe form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrified ing any of the advantages of the invention.

lVhat I claim isW4 1. In a washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body provided with horizontal ways, a cylindrical rubber jour nalcd in the washing-machine body, a lower rubber extending beneath the cylindrical rubber and 'extending upward at opposite sides thereof and mounted in the said ways and capable of rcciprocation longitudinally with the washing-machine body, and bars pivoted to the lower rubber and eccentrically connected with the cylindrical rubber, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body, an upper rubber journaled in the body, a lower rubber capable of movement longitudinally of the Washing-machine body and composed of a central sectionl and movable endsections adapted to engage alternately the upper rubber, means for cushioning the end sections, whereby they will be compressed when they engage the upper rubber, and will be caused to move inward as they are carried away from the same to throw the clothes being washed toward the center of the machine, and 4connections between the rubbers, substantially as described. 3. In a`washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body vprovided with vertical ways, a curved track-bar depending IOO IIO

from the top of the washing-machine body, a rubber journaled in said ways, capable of vertical movement and yieldingly engaging the curved track-bar, and means for operating the rubber, substantially as described. i

4i. In a Washing-machine the combination of a washing-machine body, an upper rubber, a lower rubber comprising a central section, side bars having upward extensions or end portions, end sections pivotally connected with the central section, and springs interposed between the end sections and the end portions or extensions of the side' bars, and means for operating the rubbers, substantially as described.

5. In a washing-machine, the combination of a washing-machine body provided with vertical Ways, a rubber journaled in said ways and capable of vertical movement, a curved track-bar depending from the top of the washing-machine body and located above the rubber, a yieldingly-supported roller mounted on disposed on the arm and supportingV the bear-A ing or bracket, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J AMES H. LAMSON. Witnesses:

GEO. W. ROSE, THEO. ROOKENFELLER. 

